Thermostatic valve mechanism



arch 11', 1952 Filed Jan. 8, 1947 T. F. VAN DENBERG ET AL THERMOSTATIC VALVE MECHANISM 2 SHEETSSHEET l awe-krona THO/746 I. WNDE'NBERG ammo/v w. BONDURANT ATTORNEYJ arch 1952 T. F. VAN DENBERG ET AL THERMOS TATIC VALVE MECHANISM Filed Jan. 8, 1947 /6 36 A 37 9 IQ 5 44 a I /8 2/3 4 20 r g 39 k "was/1on5 five/was F. VAN DE-BRG CARLTON W BOA/DURAN? A TTORNETJ 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 l atented Mar. 11, 1952 THERMOSTATIC VALVE MECHANISM Thomas F. Van Denberg, Chagrin Falls, and Carlton W. Bondurant, Euclid, Ohio, assignors to The Titan Valve and Manufacturing Com- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to safety control mechanism, such as is used for controlling the operation of a device which normally occupies an idle or inactive position, but which may be cocked or reset to an operative or active position in which it is releasably held, subject to variation in a variable condition, such as temperature.

One object of the invention is to provide improved control mechanism of the character described, in which the control device and its cooperating maintaining means are not directly connected but may be separately actuated or operated, but in a manner to secure the maintaining effect as and when desired, together with release when that is demanded.

Another object is to provide improved control mechanism of the character described including a cooking or resetting member provided with improved means by which it is individually and independently efiective, or may be made so efiective, upon the control device and the maintaining means, respectively.

Still another object is to provide improved control mechanism of the character described, in which the operating parts include two separate levers or sets of levers actuated by the resetting device, one effective upon the control device and the other upon the maintaining means, enabling them to be actuated independently, as described.

Another object is to generally simplify and improve the control and operating devices, to secure more positive and reliable operation in service, to reduce the cost of construction, and to secure long life in service.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the parts in idle or inactive position;

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation, from the left in Fig. 1, showing the operating levers and their support;

Fig. 3 is a similar view from the right in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of an operating lever;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, from the top in Fig. 1, with the body cap omitted;

Fig. 6 is a view, corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the parts in cocked or reset position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view, illustrating all parts in the operative or active position; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of part of the mechanism shown in other drawings, but illustrating a slight modification thereof.

The invention may be applied for use in the operation of any controlling device, such as an electric switch, a valve, a trigger or the like, employed in the control or operation of other de=- vices. For convenience, and in no sense of limitation beyond the full scope of the claims appended hereto, it has been illustrated for use in the control of the flow of liquid fuel, either liquid or gas, to a burner.

The drawings illustrate a main burner I 0, to which fuel is supplied by conduit II, and a pilot burner 12 adjacent the main burner and supplied by fuel by way of conduit l3.

The valve mechanism for controlling fuel flow through conduits ll, I3 usually is organized as a single unit and is so shown, although this is not essential and separate control devices may be employed.

As illustrated, the controlling mechanism includes a hollow body or casing l4 provided with a passage l5 through which fuel may be conducted from a supply pipe 16 to pilot burner conduit l3, flow being controlled by a valve in the form of a cylindrical rod ll slidable in and along its seat in an opening [8 in the body, said rod having an annular groove or channel 19 which by endwise rod movement may be moved into or out of registration with passage l5 and thus permit or prevent fuel flow. At its outer end, rod I'l abuts the end of the rod member 20 of a pair of thermostatic elements, the outer or tube member 2| of which is threaded into the casing, as at Zia. the conventional forms, including parts dilfering in their thermal coefficients of expansion, the arrangement being such that upon rise in temperature tube 2! elongates and permits rod 20 to retire, with contrary effect upon reduction in temperature.

Body or casing H5 is hollow, and encloses two chambers 22, 23, one of which, such as 22, communicates with a fuel supply pipe 24, and the other of which, 23, communicates with the main burner conduit ll. Flow from one chamber to the other is controlled by the main valve 25. This may be of any form, but is shown as a poppet type valve, coaxial with pilot valve rod I1, and biased toward open position by a compression spring 26. The stem of valve 25 has a portion 2'! extending into discharge chamber 22 where its end lies opposite and is coaxial with but is free from direct connection with, the inner end of valve rod I! or a part affixed thereto. On the valve rod I1 is mounted either member of a per-' manent magnet couple, here shown as the permanent magnet 28. This cooperates with the Rod 20 and tube 21 may be of any or second member of the couple, an armature 29 immovably affixed to the body or casing and of generally washer form, having an opening through which valve rod I1 is slidable. Magnet 28 is biased to the left in Fig. 1, in the valve closing direction, by compression spring 28a, much stronger than spring 26 and strong enough to close the main valve against its opening bias. The cooking or resetting mechanism includes an elongated hollow or tubular member 30 closed by a cross wall at both ends, the outer end being exposed and available for use as a reset button or cap. This tube is biased outwardly, to retracted position, by a compression spring 30a, and slides in a cap 3| secured to the body, a suitable seal being provided between them, as is usual.

Within tube 30 is a compression spring 32 efiective upon the head of a pin 33 extending forwardly through a hole in the end wall of the tube.

Tube 30 and its pin also move through an opening in the rectangular base plate of a fixed supporting member 34, the corners of which are lodged in longitudinal grooves 34a broached in the inner surface of the casing boss 35 housing it, thus preventing rotation of the plate, which is held in place by cap 3|.

Member 34 is provided with two opposite side flanges 36, 31, generally alike, each having a slot 38. On the flanges are mounted two levers 39, 49, one on each flange. These levers are generally alike, although one is a little smaller than the other because they are nested together. Both are of generally U-form with two opposite side arms 4| extending forwardly from a bridge 42 connecting them. The two arms stradle the central axis and terminate in circular bearing portions 43. Referring to Fig. 4, which illustrates the outer member 40 of the nested pair, used to actuate the magnet, the bridge 42 of this member is also provided with a central opening 42a through which the pin 33 can operate, but the bridge of the other, or valve operating member 39 is imperforate. Each lever bridge is provided along one edge with a heel 44, in the form of an inclined flange, which extends through the slot in the support flange 36 or 31 on which it is mounted, thus providing a fulcrum on the support about which the lever turns when actuated. While the two levers are loosely mounted upon their support 34, their configuration is made such that they cannot escape from operating position thereon.

The operation is as follows:

Fig. 1 illustrates the parts in normal position, with all parts cold. Spring 2811 is effective, moving magnet 28, valve rod 11 and the main valve 25 to the left and holding or maintaining both valves closed. The stem 2'! of the main valve abuts, but is not connected to, an extension beyond the magnet, of the valve rod I1, so that the valve and magnet present toward each other two large round faces on opposite sides of a space into which the operating arms of the valve operating levers extend. Both levers lie in retractedposition.

To put the control device into operation, the resetting head of tube 30 is pushed in, either manually or by the automatic operation of any device (not shown) suitable for the purpose. As described, the inner end of pin 33 extends forwardly through openings in the end wall of tube 30 and in the supporting member 34, and in the base plate of the outermost member 40 of the two nested lever members, abutting or nearly lever member 39. Consequently, the first incr ment of advance motion of the resetting tube takes up any lost motion between lever 39 and the valve 25, said lever moving into contact with the valve, if it is not already there, and thus maintaining it closed during further cocking advance of the parts. At the same time the end wall of tube 39 approaches and engages the bridge plate of lever 40, so as to swing the same to the right in Fig. 1 until the parts reach the positions shown in Fig. 6. In other words, cocking advance of the resetting tube produces two separate and distinct efiects, in order, neither dependent upon the other. The first is to engage the main valve and hold it closed and the second is to advance the permanent magnet and hold it in cocked 7 is spaced from it by a few thousandths of an inch,

just enough so that the two members of the magnet couple are not within maintaining range of each other. Consequently, if the reset button is now released, the spring 28a will return the magnet to its original position and maintain the main valve closed, while the resetting tube is retracted to its original position by its returning spring.

In the cooked position described, and shown in Fig. 6, the pilot valve I! has been advanced to a position in which its groove I9 is opposite the cross passage i5, so that fuel now flows to the pilot burner. This burner is lighted, while maintaining pressure on the reset button, and immediately heats the members of the thermostatic couple. Thereupon, the outer tube 2! of the couple expands and permits the rod 20 to retire until, finally, the magnet, still under pressure of the reset button, reaches actual contact with the armature. Thereupon the reset button is released, and tube 39 returns to its original position. Both of the operating levers 39, 40, return to their original positions, and the main valve 25 is released and moves, under the influence of its biasing spring 23, to fully open position, shown in Fig. '7. Gas thereupon flows through the main valve Opening and by way of conduit l I to the main burner where it is ignited by the pilot flame.

Both burners continue in operation, usually withsome regulation or control, such as by graduating or snap action valve mechanism of conventionl form (not shown) and requiring no description.

If at any time both burners go out for any reason, the members of the thermostatic couple cool and tube 2| contracts. This moves the valve rod I? to the left, carrying with it the permanent magnet and physically separating it from its mating armature member. As soon as they are out of contact, the magnet spring 28a becomes eifective, moving the magnet to the left and applying the effect of spring 28a to the valve stem, and closing the main valve and maintaining it closed until the parts are again put into operation by another set of steps similar to those described. Fig. 8 shows a slightly modified form of the operating lever assembly. In this modification the depending flange 36 of the supporting member 34 carries a small leaf spring 36a, the free end of which abuts the heel 44 of lever 39. The sole function and effect of spring 33a is to return the operating levers 39 .and 43 to idle position.

The mechanism described is of simple form, is certain and dependable in operation and can be made and sold at low cost. It provides means for separately and independently operating both the valve and the maintaining means, by levers actuated by a single resetting member. The movement of springs is reduced to a minimum and the mechanism as a whole may be made up in compact and attractive form.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a magnet couple including cooperating mated magnet and armature members, one fixed and the other movable along a line toward and from its mate, a control device on that side of the movable member remote from the fixed member and spaced therefrom and movable back and forth along the same said line between a first safe and a second operating position and biased toward operating position, the movable couple member being biased toward a retracted position remote from its mate where it obstructs advance of the control device by a force strong enough to overcome the bias on the control device and thus normally maintains said device in its safe position, manually operated reset means biased toward a retracted position and operating in the space between said device and the movable couple member and effective when operated to maintain the device in its first safe position and at the same time to advance the movable couple member to an intermediate position out of obstructing relation to the control device and close to but out of contact with its mate and thus short of holding relation therewith, and means sensitive to a variable condition including a movable part which under one condition prevents and under a second condition permits further advance of the movable couple member by the reset means beyond said intermediate position into holding relation with its mate, the magnetic flux between the couple members being insufiicient to overcome the bias upon the movable member when they are closely spaced but out of contact but being sufficient to do so when they are in contact with each other, whereby release of the advanced reset means after occurrence of the second condition permits the biased control device to advance to its second operating position.

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a magnet couple including cooperating mated magnet and armature members, one fixed and the other movable along a line toward and from its mate, a control device on that side of the movable member remote from the fixed member and spaced therefrom and movable back and forth along the same said line between a first safe and a second operating position and biased toward operating position, the movable couple member being biased toward a retracted position remote from its mate where it obstructs advance of the control device by a force strong enough to overcome the bias on the control device and thus normally maintains said device in its safe position, said control device and said movable couple member being provided with abutment shoulders spaced apart, manually operatable reset means biased toward a retracted position and movable transversely to the same said line and provided with operating means extending into the space between said abutment shoulders and effective upon them when operated to maintain the control device in safe position and at the same time to advance said movable couple member to an intermediate position out of obstructing relation 8. to the control device and close to but out of con= tact with its mate and thus short of holding relation therewith, and means sensitive to a variable condition including a movable part which under one condition prevents and under a second condition permits further advance of the movable couple member by the reset means beyond said intermediate position into holding relation with its mate, the magnetic flux between the couple members being insufiicient to overcome the bias upon the movable member when they are closely spaced but out of contact but being sufficient to do so when they are in contactwith each other, whereby release of the advanced reset means after occurrence of the second condtiion permits the biased control device to advance to its second operating position.

3. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a magnet couple including cooperating mated magnet and armature members, one fixed and the other movable along a line toward and from its mate, a control device on that side of the movable member remote from the fixed member and spaced therefrom and movable back and forth along the same said line between a first safe and a second operating position and biased toward operating position, the movable couple member being biased toward a retracted position remote from its mate where it obstructs advance of the control device by a force strong enough to overcome the bias on the control device and thus normally maintains said device in its safe position, said control device and said movable couple member being provided with abutment shoulders spaced apart, manually operated reset means biased toward a retracted position and movable transversely to the same said line, a pair of operating levers having arms extending into the space between said abutment shoulders and movable one toward the control device and the other toward the movable couple member, said reset means including means arranged to serially operate said levers, thereby to first apply force to the control device to maintain it in safe position and then to advance the movable couple member to an intermediate position out of obstructing relation with the control device and close to but out of contact with its mate and thus short of holding relation therewith, and means sensitive to a variable condition including a movable part which under one condition prevents and under a second condition permits further advance of the movable couple member by the reset means beyond said intermediate position into holding relation with its mate, the magnetic flux between the couple members being insufiicient to overcome the bias upon the movable member when they are closely spaced but out of contact but being sufiicient to do so when they are in contact with each other, whereby release of the advanced reset means after occurrence of the second condition permits the biased control device to advance to its second operating position.

4. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a magnet couple including cooperating mated magnet and armature members, one fixed and the other movable along a line toward and from its mate, a reciprocable valve biased to advance along the same line from closed to open position, the movable couple member being biased toward a retracted position remote from its mate where it obstructs valve advance and thus maintains the valve closed, manually operated reset means biased to a retracted position and effective when advanced to both engage the valve and maintain it closed and at the same time advance the movable couple member to an intermediate position out of obstructing relation to the valve and close to but out of contact with its mate and thus short of holding relation therewith, and thermostatic means sensitive to variation in temperature and which when cooled prevents and when heated permits further advance of the movable couple member by the reset means beyond said intermediate position into holding relation with its mate, the magnetic flux between the couple members being insuflicient to overcome the bias upon the movable couple member when they are closely spaced but being sufficient to do so when they are in contact with each other, whereby release of the advanced reset means when the thermostatic means is heated permits the valve to advance to its second position.

5. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a magnet couple including cooperating mated magnet and armature members, one fixed and the other movable along a line toward and from its mate, a valve on that side of the movable member remote from the fixed member and spaced therefrom and movable back and forth along the same said line between closed and open position and biased toward open position, the movable couple member being biased toward a retracted position remote from its mate where it obstructs advance of the valve by a force strong enough to overcome the bias on the valve and thus normally maintains said valve in its closed position, manually operated reset means biased toward a retracted position and operatin in the space between said valve and the movable couple member and effective when operated to maintain the valve in its closed position and at the same time to advance the movable couple member to an intermediate position out of obstructing relation to the valve and close to but out of contact with its mate and thus short of holding relation therewith, and means sensitive to a variable condition including a movable part which under one condition prevents and under a second condition permits further advance of the movable couple member by the reset means beyond said intermediate position into holding relation with its mate, the magnetic flux between the couple members being insufiicient to overcome the bias upon the movable member when they are closely spaced but out of contact but being sufficient to do so when they are in contact with each other,

whereby release of the advanced reset means after occurrence of the second condition permits the biased valve to advance to its open position.

6. Thermostatic valve mechanism comprising a magnet couple including cooperating mated magnet and armature members, one fixed and the other movable along a line toward and from its mate, a valve on that side of the movable member remote from the fixed member and spaced therefrom and movable back and forth along the same said line between closed and open position and biased toward open position, the movable couple member being biased toward a retracted position remote from its mate where it obstructs advance of the valve by a force strong enough to overcome the bias on the valve and thus normally maintains said valve in its closed position, manually operated reset means biased toward a retracted position and operating in the space between said valve and the movable Number couple member and effective when operated to maintain the valve in its closed position and at the same time to advance the movable couple member to an intermediate position out of obstructing relation to the valve and close to but out of contact with its mate and thus short of holding relation therewith, a pilot valve movable back and forth with the movable couple member from closed position when said member is retracted to open position when said member is in intermediate position, and thermostatic means sensitive to variations in temperature including a movable part which when cold prevents and when heamd permits further advance of the movable couple member by the reset means beyond the intermediate position into holding relation with its mate, the magnetic flux between the couple members being insufiicient to overcome the bias upon the movable member when they are closely spaced but out of contact but being suflicient to do so when they are in contact with each other, whereby release of the advanced reset means when said thermostatic means is heated permits the biased valve to advance to its open position.

7. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a magnet couple including cooperating mated magnet and armature members, one fixed and the other movable along a line toward and from its mate, a reciprocable main valve biased to advance along the same line from closed to open position, the movable couple member being biased toward a retracted position remote from its mate where it obstructs main valve advance and thus maintains the main valve closed, manually operated reset means biased to a retracted position and efiective when advanced to both engage the main valve and maintain it closed and at the same time advance the movable couple member to an intermediate position out of obstructing relation to the valve and close to but out of contact with its mate and thus short of holding relation therewith, a pilot valve movable back and forth with the movable couple member from closed position when said member is retracted to open position when said member is in intermediate position, and thermostatic means sensitive to heat and which when cooled prevents and when heated permits further advance of the movable couple member by the reset means beyond said intermediate position into holding relation with its mate, the magnetic flux between the couple members being insufiicient to overcome the bias upon the movable couple member when they are closely spaced but being sufficient to do so when they are in contact with each other, whereby release of the advanced reset means when the thermostatic means is heated permits the main valve to advance to its second position.

THOMAS F. VAN DENBERG. CARLTON W. BONDURANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,412,235' Van Denberg Dec. 10, 1945 2,412,725 Fitch Dec. 17, 1946 2,417,577 Van Denberg Mar. 18, 1947 

